Although the woman in front of her was skinny, she was tall. She was a foot taller than Luca, and she did not seem like the type who one would fall easily.The woman shook her head and replied, “No, thanks. I was in a hurry. It’s not your fault.”After that, she headed straight and kept going.She was slightly limping after she fell just now. Luca felt sorry for her and came forward to help her up. "It's my fault. Where are you going? Let me help you."“I’m going home. It’s not far away from here. Young lady, go ahead. I’ll be fine.” The woman did not intend to blame Luca for it. It was not a big deal.“Since it’s not far away, let me send you home. You don’t want to head to the hospital for a check-up, so at least let me send you home. That way, I won’t worry about you,” Luca insisted.“Okay. Thank you.” The woman did not insist on walking back herself. She let Luca help her home.Fortunately, the weather was cold but she wore enough layers to keep herself warm. Hence, it only
Warren nodded. Even though Luca said so, his gaze followed her as she went.Gordan stood at the entrance. He saw Luca getting out of the car and came closer to her. Then, he said, “It seems like Luke treats you well. He even got a driver for you.”Luca nodded and replied, “I’ve gotten into some trouble. That’s why he got me a driver. Aren’t you cold standing here?”Gordan’s gaze shifted away from her as he shot a meaningful glance at the neighborhood. Luca waited for his reply patiently and said, “It’s going to be cold when the snow melts. The weather forecast said there’s going to be a cold snap tonight. You won’t be able to stand the cold with the layers you have on now.”Luca noticed that Gordan was not wearing enough layers to keep himself warm. It matched his personality too.Gordan was good-looking. He was particular about dressing himself up too. He was someone who would rather be fashionable than be comfortable.Even though he was standing here waiting for Vivian, he wa
“I’m here to help.” Luca smiled and walked into the kitchen. She picked up the apron and put it on.Aunt Neile smiled and replied, “Luckily, the kitchen is spacious enough. Otherwise, there’s no space for the two of you to stand in here and help.”“Aunt Neile, what should I do?” Luca asked.“I prepared soup today, but I haven’t added the seasonings into it. Why don’t you handle the seasoning?” said Aunt Neile. Vivian was here, so she prepared a few more dishes. "Okay." Luca opened the lid of the pot and realized Aunt Neile had prepared butternut squash soup. It was good for health, especially for people like Luke, who always worked overtime and was busy with work.Luca said, “Aunt Neile, save some in the pot to keep it warm. Mr. Crawford can have some when he’s back.”Aunt Neile immediately asked, “Mr. Crawford isn’t coming back for dinner tonight?”"Didn't he tell you? He's working overtime." Luca was a little surprised. Luke would inform Aunt Neile that he was not going home
Gordan got into T Corporation smoothly.It was not his first time coming here. Besides, there were no changes to T Corporation’s building structure. Gordan confirmed with the security guard the floor where Luke’s office was. Then, he got into the elevator and came to Luke’s office. Tina stood at the elevator to receive him. The elevator door slowly opened. She took a deep breath and said, “Nice to meet you, Mr. Norton. Boss is already waiting for you in his office. This way, please.”“I know where his office is. You may go back to work.” The look on Gordan’s face was gloomy. He went straight ahead. Tina secretly mumbled to herself. Was he really Boss’ friend? Why did he look like he came to seek revenge?Gordan marched forward with his long legs and arrived at Luke’s office. He looked up and glanced at the signage, confirming that it was the CEO’s office. He did not knock on the door but walked right into his office instead.“Let’s go for a drink,” Gordan said straightforwardly
“I have to do as Vivian wishes,” replied Luke. Although Luke being kidnapped to the Island of Despair was indirectly related to Vivian, he had never blamed her for it.Vivian was visually unappealing, but she had a kind heart, and she deserved to be treated better.However, Gordan did not know how to appreciate her inner beauty. That was why it was good for the two of them to separate. Since they had separated, they should not see each other anymore.“If I didn’t know how much you loved Sis, I’d have suspected that ugly woman cast a spell on you and made you fall for her,” Gordan mumbled in a depressed tone. He could not understand why everyone was siding with Vivian.Luke and Luca were on her side.He was the true victim, okay?! Not only had he wasted a couple of years, but he also had to be humiliated when he got divorced.Luke gave Gordan a death stare.He should not have said such nonsense. Although Luca would not misunderstand him, they were at the office now. Those who
"Your semester is going to start soon. You have to cure your jet lag as soon as possible. Otherwise, you won’t be able to focus when you're in class." Luke knew what was bothering her, but he did not expose her. He reminded her and sounded like her big brother.Vivian nodded. Her worries eventually took over her hesitation. She could not help but ask, “Mr. Crawford, did you see anyone at the entrance when you came back here?”She did not mention Gordan’s name, but she knew Luke would know who she was asking about even if she did not say his name.“No one is at the entrance at this hour. It’s late. Rest early.” Luke knew Vivian wanted to ask about Gordan.After all, he had been standing at the entrance all day like a security guard.“Okay.” Vivian let out a sigh of relief when she heard no one was at the entrance. She had walked out to the balcony a moment ago. A gust of cold wind swept across her face. It was much colder than it was in the morning. Gordan was only concerned ab
“It’s our job, Dr. Craw. We’re heading to Watson Biopharmaceuticals first,” said Zoey. She was carrying a thick file. It contained all the information for the application of the drug launch.“Sure. Off you go.” Luca nodded.After Luca watched Zoey and Rhett leave from behind, she withdrew her gaze, looked down, and pondered for a moment.The phone in her pocket vibrated for a moment. Luca picked it up and glanced at her phone. She saw the number on the screen was not a string of numbers but Tina’s phone number. She let out a sigh of relief. “Tina, what’s the matter?” Luca answered the call."Dr. Craw, Boss, and Mr. Doyle haven't come to the office yet. I can only look for you." Tina did not go straight to the point. She expressed how helpless she was at first. Luca replied embarrassedly, “Mr. Crawford worked overtime last night. He should be at home now. You can call him if it’s about work.”There was no way Luca could handle T Corporation’s matters. She was in no position to
Gordan’s face darkened.Luca and Luke were a couple, indeed. They could say sarcastic things to him with a straight face. There was no way he could refute it.“Don’t worry. I know this place. Don’t mind me. I’ll leave you to work.” Gordan had no choice but to pretend as though her words did not emotionally set him off. He turned around and slouched on the sofa.Luca stopped, turned around, and glanced at Gordan who had fused with the sofa. She said, "Mr. Norton, are you planning to wait in T Corporation all day?"“I’ve already informed your boss. I’m going to stay here all day before the matter is settled,” Gordon replied with a smile. He thought Luca was panicking.After all, Luca’s true identity was Bianca. Bianca had always loved protecting Luke.Although Luke did not need her protection, she took it seriously when it was about protecting him.Luca slowly nodded and replied, “Sounds great. Mr. Crawford happens to need a bodyguard anyway.”"You…" Gordon was triggered by her w
Nina trembled when she was touched. Her whole body was shaking.Karen’s touch was icy cold, and when her hand fell on Nina’s face, it carried a chill.“Don’t hurt her!” Percy’s voice was hoarse, his anger barely concealed in his eyes.He was furious but kept reminding himself not to provoke Karen.“Hmph, look at how nervous you are.” Karen's patience wore thin. Without another word, she laid out her conditions. “If you want me to let her go, fine.”“What do you want me to do?” Percy knew the conditions she was about to propose would not be as simple as keeping her out of the psychiatric hospital.It could involve Pierre.Perhaps even the company.Even though Karen had spoken to him about the high hopes she had for him, Percy did not believe a word of it. To her, from beginning to end, the only person who mattered was Pierre.Percy was merely a tool to secure her position in the Mallory family.“See? You still care about this woman. You’ve disappointed me!” Karen glanced at Ni
“Mr. Mallory, I didn’t dare to go in. Nina and your mother are still inside.” After Sue realized that Nina might be in danger, she had been waiting outside, unwilling to leave.She had been planning to rush in with the other employees if she heard Nina scream.Percy's expression darkened. He did not blame Sue for the situation, so he did not say anything. Instead, he quickly walked to Nina’s office door and pushed it open.The sight before him sent a chill through his veins, as though his blood had turned to ice.“You're here?” Karen fixed her eerie gaze on the person who had opened the door. A strange, sinister smile curved at the corners of her lips. She stood behind Nina with a knife tightly gripped in her hand.The sharp blade was pressed against Nina’s neck, already leaving a faint red mark.Sue gasped at the sight and instantly lost her composure.Karen frowned in dissatisfaction, moving the knife slightly and muttering, “Why is there another woman here? Tell her to leave!
“'ll contact someone in A City to investigate,” said Gale.“Let Percy know while you're at it,” added Luke. “He needs to be aware of this.”“Got it.” Gale hurried off to handle the matter.…After taking Gale's call, Percy hung up and stared icily at the middle-aged man standing before him.Under Percy's chilling gaze, the man nervously dabbed at the sweat on his forehead with a handkerchief.“Mr. Mallory, my sincerest apologies…” The man, the director of the psychiatric hospital, had come to personally apologize to Percy today.Karen had escaped.Two days ago, Percy admitted Karen to the psychiatric hospital. After an evaluation, the doctors determined her condition warranted hospitalization, so she was admitted.Even though Karen was against it, given her mental state and with the consent of an immediate family member, the hospital was legally authorized to proceed.Percy had even informed the hospital to take special care of Karen. He had explicitly instructed them not to
When she opened her eyes again, the sky outside had already darkened slightly.Luca mumbled, feeling the warmth beside her. She instinctively curled closer. “What time is it?”“It's a little past five.” Luke gently rubbed her back, offering a quiet comfort to help her feel at ease.Since he could not be there beside her, he could only make these small gestures to bring her some peace of mind.“An entire afternoon just passed like that…” Luca was reluctant to leave at the moment. Her slender fingers lightly pressed against his chest.Luke took her hand in his, bringing it to his lips for a soft kiss, holding it as if it were something precious and tenderly stroking it.Luca's hands had once been delicate and smooth, but during their time in the small villa, they had become much rougher.“You've got calluses.” Luke felt sorry for her.Luca gently traced her finger over his lips, leaning in to plant a soft kiss on him. “It’s just from the needlework and the experiments I’ve been d
Luca walked over to another couch and sat down. “I think I’ll stay here. How about letting Luke come down so that we can all catch up? It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.”Gordan’s face fell. “Ms. Craw, are you doing this on purpose?”Luca pretended not to know anything. “Doing what on purpose?”Gordan quickly shook his head. “Nothing. Just go upstairs already. Brother Luke’s been waiting for you.”Luca had intended to tease Gordan a little longer, but after not seeing Luke for the past few days, she found herself missing him deeply. Standing up with a smile, she said, “Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Oh, by the way, Mr. Gale, could you help me pick up a few things? Someone over there asked me to get them, and I couldn’t refuse.”“Sure, no problem. What do you need?” Gale agreed immediately.After handing him the list, Luca turned and headed upstairs.Gale watched Luca leave from behind, nudging Gordan’s arm. “Let’s go. We should leave and give the boss and Ms. Cr
The security guard remained completely unfazed.This was because the village chief was his uncle, and in their tight-knit community, they always stuck together and never favored outsiders.With directions from the people inside the ancestral hall, Hera found the village chief.“You’re the village chief, right?” Hera looked at the man in his fifties in front of her and spoke with an arrogant tone, completely unbothered.“And you are?” The village chief, seeing her attitude, was puzzled. He had no idea whether she was an investor or someone looking to discuss a major partnership to bring development to their quiet village.“It doesn’t matter who I am. I see you have surveillance here, and I need to review your footage,” replied Hera.The village chief was even more confused. “Are you a police officer?”“No.” Hera frowned. She thought reviewing surveillance footage was no big deal. Why was this village chief being so difficult?The village chief gave her a look as if she were a fo
“Wait a little longer. By the way, what kind of ancestral hall is this?” asked Hera.“It's a local family's ancestral hall. I heard it's been designed by the owner of a large company, and now it's also one of the tourist attractions.” The taxi driver was not from around here, so he did not know all the details, but he knew it had become a popular spot. “Now, thanks to the reputation of that boss, many architects come here as one of their reference points.”Hera frowned deeper. What was Luca doing here?The driver suggested, “If you're interested in sightseeing, the attractions inside are pretty good. But for outsiders, they charge an entrance fee. Maintenance costs a lot of money, so they charge tourists from outside.”“I'm not here for sightseeing,” replied Hera, “Don't worry. I'll pay you for however long I stay here. You’ll get your money.”The driver heard that she was paying, and did not press her further and remained quiet.Hera stared at the entrance of the ancestral hall,
Hera let out a cold sneer, feeling that Gerald's apology was not sincere.Hera did not want to press the issue at the moment. She gave him a sharp look. “Come with me.”Gerald knew that Hera was up to something again. If it were a normal order, she would have just said it in the living room. Whenever she called him aside, it meant whatever she had to say could not be overheard by others.Reluctantly, Gerald followed her out.It was midday, and as soon as Hera stepped out of the living room, a wave of heat hit her face.The intense warmth made her feel uncomfortable.Hera got straight to the point, turning to Gerald. “What did Luca say to you just now?”“She just asked me to help keep an eye on the volunteer,” Gerald answered honestly. This was not something that needed to be kept secret.Hera frowned. “Is she going out”Gerald hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to say anything.“I’m talking to you, not the wall. Are you mute?” Hera threatened. “If you lie to me, I’ll te
Gordan was puzzled. At most, it was just brotherly camaraderie. After all, they had been through thick and thin together. Their bond might be stronger than usual, but falling in love? That was a bit of a stretch.Luke said, “The way you acted just now, doesn't really seem 'straight' to me. Also, if you're into women, maybe you should consider finding one. Otherwise, if you're always single, people might start misinterpreting your feelings for me.”“Luke, actually, you're not bad at all. In fact, you're probably better than a lot of women,” Gordan replied with a sly grin.As a man himself, he honestly thought Luke was a great guy. If he were a woman, he would be utterly captivated by him.“Shut up!” Luke knew he was joking, but he still felt a chill run down his spine. He seriously worried that Gordan might do something inappropriate when he turned his back on him.Shivering from the thought, Luke put down his glass and headed upstairs.Gordan let out a deep sigh.The night w